Wednesday

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's office on Wednesday denied as false the rumors circulating around Lubbock and the state — that he was involved in Tech Chancellor Robert Duncan's retirement.

The circumstances around the chancellor's abrupt departure are still not clear, and while members of the Texas Tech Board of Regents have remained silent, Abbott looked to block any rumors of his involvement. His Deputy Press Secretary, Mac Walker, issued a statement saying the rumors are false.

None of the regents live in Lubbock.

Since Duncan announced his retirement in a statement late Monday, word spread that members of the Texas Tech Board of Regents had an informal vote of no confidence in the chancellor during a closed session of their regular meeting late last week in Lubbock. On Tuesday, multiple sources close to the situation told A-J Media the nine members of the Board of Regents took turns expressing their views on the chancellor’s future at Tech, and a 5-4 majority wanted new leadership.

Many speculated Duncan’s leave is related to the proposed veterinary school in Amarillo that the chancellor has been adamantly pushing. Leaders at Texas A&M, current home of the state’s only veterinary school, have been opposed to it. As to the possibility of how five members of the Texas Tech Board of Regents were swayed to side with A&M, sources A-J Media spoke with pointed to the governor's office.

Here's the full statement his office released Wednesday after a request for comment:

"The rumors you reference are simply false. Any claims that the governor influenced the decision are unfounded and untrue. Contrary to innuendo, the governor has been assured by the Board of Regents the veterinary school was not the reason for Chancellor Duncan’s departure. To the contrary, the governor has been informed that the Texas Tech Board of Regents are submitting a budget appropriation request to fund the veterinarian school. The governor is grateful to Chancellor Duncan for his service to Texas Tech University and to the entire state of Texas, and he wishes him the best in his retirement."

Duncan, who's away from his office for the remainder of the week due to a previously planned vacation, according to his office, has yet to make a comment other than his initial statement announcing his retirement.

The five members of the board to push for Duncan’s leave, according to sources, were Regents Rick Francis, Ronnie Hammonds, Christopher Huckabee, Mickey Long and John Steinmetz.

Abbott will be in Lubbock Aug. 22 for a reception event. Three of those regents said to have pushed Duncan out at Tech - Steinmez, Long and Hammonds - are on the Host Committee for the governor's event in Lubbock. All five of them are on the list of major donors that was sent out along with the invitations to the event, as are two of the four regents in the minority who voted to keep Duncan.

Amidst the talk of Chancellor Duncan and the relationship between A&M and the regents, Tech on Wednesday afternoon issued a news release regarding the university pushing forward with the veterinary school, which came during last week's regents meeting.

A-J Media reported after the meeting last Thursday that regents committees approved the funding for preliminary designs of the school and approved the process to begin establishing a degree plan. The university is still fundraising for the cost of the school in Amarillo, and it still needs sources of revenue from the state, which was to be a focus of Duncan's heading into the 2019 legislative year.

The news release included a quote from Chairman Francis in support of the veterinary school.

“The Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine is one of the initiatives we are pursuing for the Texas Tech University System as we continue to build momentum heading into the upcoming legislative session,” he said. “This impactful initiative will further demonstrate the ability our institutions have to serve our state. We greatly value our partnership with (Amarillo) Mayor Ginger Nelson and the Amarillo community along with the agricultural community and the dedicated support we have received from our generous donors.”

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.